Doubt_Probability_pg. 67 Flashcards
What is doubt?
suspension of the intellect’s assentand judgement in reference toa proposition
What is doubt opposed to?
certainty,suspicion, and opinion
What are te three steps leading to the firm assent of the intellect?
state of doubt wherenoassentexists, states of opinion and suspicion in which the intellect gives an imperfect assent, science and faith where there exists a firm assent w/o any fear of error
What are the kinds of doubt?
doubt of law (dubium iuris) or doubt of particular fact (dubium facti)
When is doubt positive?
fear of error is based on grave reasons
When is doubt negative?
fear of error rests on slight reasons
What is speculative doubt?
regarding the morality of a human act irrespective of its present performance or omission
What is practical doubt?
concerned w/ morality of an act to be performed here and now
What is the First Principle of Doubt?
No one is allowed to perform an act while in a state of positive practical doubt
What should man do if in this state to avoid mortal sin?
refrain from acting or remove practical doubt
How do we remove doubt?
directly or indirectly
How do we directly remove doubt?
diligently searching after truth till certainty attained (seek counsel)
How do we indirectly remove doubt?
reflex principles
What are Reflex or Indirect Principles?
general directions which directly and of themeselves do not prove the truth of the matter under investigation but do reflect their own clear light on the obscure practical doubt and dispel the darkenss of that doubt while the act is being performed
What are the significant reflex principles?
doubtful law has no binding force, in doubt one must stand by presumption, in doubt possession is nine-tenths of the law
When does a doubtful law not have binding force?
when doubt concerns the lawfulness of an act and not its validity
When can a doubtful law not be applied?
concerns validity of the Sacraments, concerns somthing which is absolutely necessary for salvation e.g. risk of losing eternal life, the safer opinion must be followed, when the question involves an established right of a third party e.g. judge would not be justified in giving judgement on the basis of a probable opinion while refusing to follow what is certainly the more probable opinion
What else shoudl one do in doubt?
One must stand in presumption
What do most reflex principles stand on?
Decretals of Gregory Ix
What are the rights of the third party?
e.g. a judge would never make a decision based on probable opinion
what is meant by “in doubt possession is nine-tenths of the law?”
principle forms the basis for the theory of Equiprobabilism and is known in brief as the principle of possession
What are the ten reflex principles?
doubtful law does not bind, in case of doubt one must err on the side of where the presumption lies, in case of doubt one must err on the side of the possessor, wrongdoing is not presumed but instead ought to be proved, in case of doubt one must err [even] on the side of one who is guilty, in case of doubt of presumption stands on the side of the superior, in case of doubt one must judge based on what ordinarily is the case what usually happens, in case of doubt one must err on the side of the validity of the act, in case of doubt favors should be extended and disfavors (hostilities) restricted, in doubtful matters one is bound by the minimum
What is a possessor?
not just a person, but also truth and falsity…
What is the superior?
the higher thing
What can be said regarding the validity of the act?
burden on proof is to prove invalidity
What is a moral system?
method of arriving at moral certainty from a state of practical doubt
What are the seven systems?
rigorism (absolute tutiorism), morderate tutiorism, probabiliorism, equiprobabilism, Pure probabilism, Lax probabilism, compensationism (system of sufficient cause)
What is rigorism?
maintains that the safer course must always be followed even though the opinion in favour of liberty is most probable (Condemned by Alexander VIII)
What is moderate tutiorism?
less safe opinion which favours liberty can be followed provided that it is most probable
What is probabiliorism?
one may follow the opinion that favours liberty so long as it is clearly more probable than the opinion in favour of the law
What is equiprobabilism?
when there are conflicting opinions which are eqaully or almost equally probable it is lawful to follow the opinion in favour of liberty when the doubt relates to the existence of law, but if the doubt concerns cessation of law then the law continues to bind
What is pure probabilism?
in case of doubt relating to the lawfulness of acts and not to their validity it is always lawful to follow the opinion in favour of liberty if the opinion is certainly probable, even though the opinion in favour of the law is more probable
What are the kinds of probability?
Intrinsic Probability and Extrinisc Probability?
What is intrinsic probability?
when founded on reasons taken from the nature of the matter to prove its truth
What is extrinsic probability?
based on authority of learned men
What is an opinion extrinsically probably?
five or six noteworthy authoritiesin favor or at least one outstanding doctor lk STA or SA
What are the three kinds of opinion?
certainly, doubtfully, slightly (all three depend on whether opinion rests on sold and firm arguments or doubtful or slight arguments
When is probability absolute?
arguments in favor of an opinion considered by themselves appear to be valid
When is probability relative?
arguments in favor of an opinion retain their value only when compared with the arguments supporting the contrary opinon
what is lax probabilism?
lawful to follow an opinion that is not only certainly probable but even when the opinion is doubtfully or slightly possible
What is compensationism (system of sufficient cause)?
one may follow a certainly probable opinion in favour of liberty, while abandoning a more probable opinion in favor of the law but when there is danger of sin there is required a sufficient reason for acting in favor of liberty
What are the natural means for the education of conscience?
good education from beginning of childhood, faithful and continual examination of conscience
What are the supernatural means?
fervent prayer to God, strenuous fight against man’s disordered passions with aid of divine grace, sacramental confession and obedience to spiritual director
